We wanted to get together to explore our options to relieve the overcrowding, said Commissioner Joe Secrest. There are things the courts and judges can do, such as alternate sentences, to help alleviate the problem.

We are going to explore using other space, such as the Cambridge Psychiatric Hospital grounds, for alternative sentencing measures. We are also going to look at house arrest and electronic monitoring as another alternative sentence for certain offenders. We have to find ways to reduce the daily population at the jail to under capacity, he said.

The topic of overcrowded jails came up again during a later meeting between commissioners and State Rep. Nancy Hollister.

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Other counties are facing similar situations with overcrowding, said Secrest. We wanted to discuss ways the state could help local counties deal with the expenses for operating a jail, including the possibility of obtaining funding from the state to expand the jail.

Commissioners also discussed with Hollister waterline projects in the county.

We wanted to get her support for funding of proposed waterline projects, said Secrest. We wanted to cover the countys plan in detail so she could assist us with seeking funding options.

In other business:

Commissioners met with Tom Bunfill, Village of Fairview, regarding a contract the village signed for an engineers study for construction of waterlines in eastern Guernsey County.

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The contract, executed with the Ohio Water Development Authority, calls for the village to pay $13,000 for the assessment costs associated with the study.

The village doesnt believe it would be fair for them to pay for the entire cost when the waterline would benefit so many other areas in that part of the county, said Secrest. We are going to follow-up with the Ohio Water Development Authority to determine if a payment schedule can be established, as well as if there is any chance of relief from the payments or ways the county could help with the expenses.

Commissioners met with Guernsey County Prosecuting Attorney C. Keith Plummer and Auditor Tony Brown in executive session to discuss various personnel matters. No action was reportedly taken as a result of the meeting.

Approval was given by commissioners for the use of the Guernsey County Courthouse lawn for a Memorial Day service. Commissioners also extended an invitation to bid on the following projects:

Concrete beam bridges for county roads 33 and 44 and Township Road 361.